In 1997, I was a master’s student at Indiana University. I had just completed and submitted my application for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s doctorate program in Textiles, Clothing and Design. My goal was to study quilts with Professor Patricia Crews, a professor doing groundbreaking research in textile history. I wasn’t sure what career path that would lead to, I was only thinking one step at a time.
One afternoon I opened a letter from my mom and a newspaper article fell out. The headline read “1000 Quilts coming to the University of Nebraska.” I’ll never forget that moment. I recognized immediately that there would be amazing opportunities ahead. I was accepted into UNL’s program, moved to Lincoln, and began my incredible journey. A year later I was hired as the center’s first curator.
Quilts have taken me around the world—to artists’ studios and museums, to beautiful homes and incredible experiences. Quilts have led me to friendships I value and to people who have inspired me both in my career and my personal life. And I have gotten to know quilts . . . lots and lots of quilts!
I hope you will enjoy this snapshot of my journey working alongside an amazing team of scholars, collectors, and volunteers to discover quilts and to be a part of building the largest, most in-depth international quilt collection in the world. I’m proud and humbled by the first 20 years’ work, and I can’t wait to see what the next 20 have in store.
- Carolyn Ducey, Curator of Collections